WHS hammers Irondale

Published December 20, 2012 at 12:47 pm

In non-conference action last week, the Waconia boys’ basketball team traveled to Mounds View to defeat the Irondale Knights 63-35.

Wildcat head coach Pat Hayes said the team jumped out to an early lead in the first half and continued to extend throughout the game. The offensive domination was supported by a solid defensive effort from the Wildcats that limited the Knights’ shots.

Hayes said the Knights used a zone defense in the second half to slow the tempo of the game, but big three-point shots from seniors Matt Rachey and Alex Chandler, along with junior Jacob Herd, kept the Wildcats’ lead around 30 points.

Rachey led the offense with 19 points, sinking three of seven three-point attempts and going 6-6 at the free throw line. Senior Wylie Ferron also contributed 15 significant points to the Wildcat attack, while Herd scored 10. Chandler (7), sophomore Avery Talton (6), junior Ryan Boll (4), and senior Josh Lenz (2) also added to the Wildcats’ scoreboard total. As a team, the Wildcats shot nearly 40 percent (23-58) from field goal range and were 61 percent from the line (11-18). Waconia cleared six of 17 three-point shots (35 percent): three from Rachey, two from Herd, and one from Chandler.

Rachey had four of the team’s seven steals, while Boll, Chandler, and Ferron snagged the rest.

Chandler led the team in rebounds, grabbing seven total boards, two while on offense. Ferron split his six rebounds between the two sides of the court, while Boll and Talton each pulled down four.

The Wildcats are finally home this week, as they hosted Glencoe-Silver Lake on Tuesday. They will also host Chaska tomorrow night, Dec. 21 before heading to an Eden Prairie tournament over the winter break. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 5 in Class AAA.